Dealing with the crumbs of life

Recently, I participated in a Facebook conversation initiated when someone complained about getting an opened bag of corn chips from the cabinet, only to find that someone else had left only the crumby remnants.

I and many others understood the disappointment, but several of us commented about the beneficial use of such leftovers for cooking or as a treat. Shortly after my initial response, I realized the topic was a food-for-thought opportunity. So here’s what came tumbling out of my mind.

Crumbs are associated with less-than-desirable things due to their crumminess. However, some people are glad to have the crumbs because of their position in life (Matthew 15:21-28). While that passage doesn’t actually pertain to food, I recall a conversation with another friend recently about how safe and secure our food supply is in America because of the great natural and agricultural resources God has provided us, including our farmers and ranchers and industries related to agriculture that involve processing, transportation and local distribution.

The entire world benefits from American agriculture, and, in my opinion, it’d be appropriate for the modern-day Canaanites and nearby countries to not be negatively influenced by distant sources, such as Iran, and recognize the benefits of having the modern-day Israelites as their neighbors because Israel is very advanced regarding water-smart agricultural production and its national defense system. Everyone around the world, including America, should learn the benefits of living in peace as much as possible despite religious and other differences because resistance to appropriate peace is futile (Romans 12:14-18; Acts 26:9-20).

Back to looking for chips, but only finding crumbs: While that and many other life situations are disappointing, Jesus never is. Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth was to bring peace between humankind and God leading to the abundant life of joy and peace among humans, in some, but not all cases (Ephesians 2:11-19; Luke 1:57-79; Matthew 10:32-39; John 10:7-11, esp. vs 10). If we maintain our place in the abundant life, Jesus won’t leave us (John 3:16-21; 10:27-30; 15:9-10; Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 13:5).

Attaining this abundant joy in any circumstance takes effort on our part, just as it did for Jesus (Matthew 10:25-28; Hebrews 12:2-4; James 1:2-12). For this reason, we should try to view the bright side of our circumstances, which will also help us see the opportunities they present, like some who responded to the crumby chip complaint on Facebook (Philippians 4:8-13; Ephesians 5:15-17). The concept about thinking on good things presented in Philippians 4:8-9 is related to “garbage in, garbage out,” which also is biblically based (Matthew 15:16-19; 7:17-20; Titus 1:15). So, positive thinking helps us see the opportunities to which negative thinkers are blinded.

Therefore, as the saying goes, “When life gives you a lemon, make lemonade.” That said, I know a lot of children who would just pick up the lemon and eat all but the peel (Matthew 18:1-4; Philippians 2:12-16). Do you have that kind of childlike outlook?

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]